Petition: Stop the executions in Myanmar

In November, 2022, Myanmar military tribunals handed down death sentences for ten people, including seven Dagon University students. All these convictions followed grossly unjust closed-door trials that fell far short of international fair trial standards.

Myanmar’s secretive military tribunals have long shown complete disregard for basic human rights protections and failed to uphold international due process and fair trial standards. Those on trial before military tribunals face almost certain conviction regardless of the available evidence against them. Families, the public, and foreign diplomats have no access to trials. Convictions are frequently based on confessions obtained by torture and other ill-treatment, including frequent beatings.

The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, stated: “By resorting to use death sentences as a political tool to crush opposition, the military confirms its disdain for the efforts by ASEAN and the international community at large to end violence and create the conditions for a political dialogue to lead Myanmar out of a human rights crisis created by the military.”

The students are Khant Zin Win; Thura Maung Maung; Zaw Lin Naing; Thiha Htet Zaw; Hein Htet; Thet Paing Oo; and Khant Linn Maung Maung. Also sentenced to death are Wai Zin Yan, Thu Htoo Aung, and Min Htet Thar to death.

The international community must put effective pressure on the Burma's military junta to prevent these executions.

Please sign our petition urging the United Nations Security Council and the nations of ASEAN to put effective pressure on the Myanmar military junta to impose a moratorium on the death penalty with the aim of abolishing capital punishment in the country.